Visa classes › Family-sponsored preferences › F3
F3 · immigrant visa · Family-sponsored preferences
F3: Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)
The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics.
F3 is the State Department's symbol for "Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)". 1,920 F3 immigrant visas were issued worldwide in September 2025, down 17% on September 2024 (2,313), 4.2% of the month's immigrant issuances and the 9th largest class of 49.
The Department publishes annual totals for immigrant classes separately, in its Report of the Visa Office immigrant visa tables, which this site does not yet carry; this site does not add monthly reports together.
65 posts issued at least one F3 visa in September 2025. The largest were Mumbai (411, 21.4%), Manila (220, 11.5%) and Montreal (160, 8.3%).
By foreign state of chargeability, the largest groups that month were India (505), Philippines (220) and China - mainland (114).
The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.
Issuances by month
Compared with its group and all immigrant classes
| Measure | F3 | Family-sponsored preferences group | All immigrant classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visas issued, Sep 2025 | 1,920 | 15,728 | 45,966 |
| Change on Sep 2024 | -17% | — | -21% |
| Share of immigrant issuances, Sep 2025 | 4.2% | 34.2% | 100% |
Posts issuing the most F3 visas, September 2025
65 posts issued at least one in the month. Shares of the month's F3 total: Mumbai 21.4%, Manila 11.5%, Montreal 8.3%, Guangzhou 5.6%, Kingston 4.4%.
By foreign state of chargeability, September 2025
| Foreign state of chargeability | Issued, Sep 2025 | Share of F3 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 505 | 26.3% |
| Philippines | 220 | 11.5% |
| China - mainland | 114 | 5.9% |
| Nigeria | 93 | 4.8% |
| Jamaica | 91 | 4.7% |
| Pakistan | 71 | 3.7% |
| Guyana | 68 | 3.5% |
| Jordan | 62 | 3.2% |
| Mexico | 59 | 3.1% |
| Colombia | 55 | 2.9% |
| Albania | 54 | 2.8% |
| Canada | 37 | 1.9% |
| Vietnam | 35 | 1.8% |
| Cambodia | 31 | 1.6% |
| Armenia | 30 | 1.6% |
| Brazil | 28 | 1.5% |
| Lebanon | 25 | 1.3% |
| Egypt | 24 | 1.3% |
| Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 21 | 1.1% |
| Korea, South | 20 | 1% |
Other classes in the same group
- F4 Family fourth preference: brother or sister of U.S. citiz… (4,502 in Sep 2025)
- FX Family second preference, exempt from country limitations… (3,556 in Sep 2025)
- F2B Family second preference (2B): unmarried son or daughter … (2,534 in Sep 2025)
- F1 Family first preference: unmarried son or daughter of U.S… (2,275 in Sep 2025)
- F2A Family second preference (2A): spouse or child of lawful … (939 in Sep 2025)
- B2A Self-petition spouse or child of lawful permanent residen… (1 in Sep 2025)
- BX Self-petition spouse or child of lawful permanent residen… (1 in Sep 2025)
- CX Spouse or child of lawful permanent resident, exempt from… (0 in Sep 2025)
Questions and answers
What is a F3 visa?
The State Department's symbol list describes F3 as "Family third preference: married son or daughter of U.S. citizen, spouse and child (F31, F32, F33, C31-C33, B31-B33)". It is an immigrant visa class.
How many F3 visas were issued last year?
In September 2025, the latest monthly report, 1,920 F3 visas were issued. The Department publishes annual totals separately; this site does not add monthly reports together.
How does September 2025 compare with a year earlier for F3?
1,920 issued, down 17% on September 2024 (2,313).
Which posts issue the most F3 visas?
In September 2025: Mumbai (411), Manila (220), Montreal (160), Guangzhou (108) and Kingston (84), out of 65 posts that issued any.
Where does this data come from?
The State Department's monthly immigrant visa issuance tables by post and by foreign state of chargeability, March 2017 to September 2025. Class descriptions are the Department's own.
Provenance
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly immigrant visa issuance tables by post and by foreign state of chargeability, Mar 2017 to Sep 2025, public domain. The class description is quoted from the Department's Immigrant Visa Symbols list. Data through 30 Sep 2025. See corrections.